The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-07
GOV. sopwELL's INAUGURAL,
CONTINUED ON SECOND PAoE.1

dren shall not be admitted to work in factor
les before the age Of fifteen years. This will
give Tune for strength and growth, and also
Ior acquiring the rudiments of good educa-
tlon; In this matter, the parents who seek
work Tor their children are as often to
Diane as the employers in factories, and the
penalty adopted should be made TO apply to
Mnicneyer Is the offending party. a special
penalty should be attached to the offence OF
disappearing the age of child.
TEN HOUR LAW.
recommend, further. that labor In all cor
poratlons In the State be absolutely restrict
ed by law to ten hours day, and that
DAY labor outside of corporations shall al
ways be left, as now defined by statute, at
ten hours. If days labor be less or more
contract between the parties, and be. regu--
lated by the hour. The multiplication Of
machinery and the great addition to the pow
er Oh manufacturing, ought naturally to be
followed by some ameli0rarl0n in the hours
OF labor. The length Of days work might
be, even now, further reduced, if the wants
OF the people did not multiply in equal ratio
with the facilities for gratifying them. Ii
men with the earnings of today should live
after the manner of forty or fifty years ago,
large surplus would result from daily
wages; but as wants multiply additional
means are required. 1t is, however. salts
faction to believe that the tendency is in the
right direction. and that the average wages
States, reckoned in coin and measured by
their ability to purchase the necessaries and
luxurles of life, are larger than they have
ever before been in any period OF our histo-
ry, while at the same time the average hours
OF labor are shorter.
ARBoR DAY.
A pleasant custom has grown up within
the last few years, in many of the States, to
nave an annual holiday, known -"Arbor
Day" 1t is devoted wholly to the planting
OF trees, useful. ornamental. and in many
cases for memorial purposes; and under the
proclamation of the Governor appointing the
day and specifying its purpose, a very large
amount of planting has been accom-
pllshed in many of the States. The custom
is one which l think may be proftably adopt
ed IN this State, and | suggest that law to
that effect be enacted by the Legislature.
FIRE PROOF BUILDING.
The State government of Maine is now in
the sixty-eighth year Of its organization. In
that long period the archives Of the State
have increased in interest, in value and in
magnitude. 1t certainly is matter of great
regret that, aside from the vault in 1.-THE
Treasurer's office, there is no provision what
ever in the State House for fre-proof cham
bers. IL fire should destroy the documents
in the several departments, the loss to the
State government and to the people would be
incalculable. After the calamity was ac-
complished, we should all wonder that we
days delay in making suitable provision for
the preservation of these documents, which
are incapable of duplication.
As the plan Of enlarging the State House
including library and large fre-proof cham.
bers, at q cost of $50, 900, has not received
the favor of past Legislatures, do not now
renew it. But urgently recommend that
fire-proof brick building Of moderate cost be
erected in the rear of the State House, the
upper floor to be given to the State Library
and tho loxvar H0nr IN fra rat,lfa far
the permanent security of all the papers of
the State which have permanent value. AS
the burden of State taxation will be much
lighter hereafter, the comparatively small
worthy of consideration. in view Of the very
great object to be attained by its construc-
ton. Its inestimable Importance Is my ex-
cuse for urging it upon the attention Of the
Legislature with such earnestness.
THE FISHERIES.
Our shipbuilding and navigation interests
in common with those of other maritime ma
lions, are not as prosperous as could be de-
sired. The cause of the decay in the Ameri-
can marine is not difficult to explain, and
regret that the remedy is not within the pow
er of the State. In addition to
this we, are yexed with a serious
trouble to the American fishing inter-
est 1t is evident that our fishermen are now
80 be antagonized by every possible effort on
the part Of the Canadian government. The
Imperial government of Great Britain, 1t is
now announced, has sanctioned an act of the
Canadian Parliament by which every harsh
and unreasonable condition of the treaty Of
1918 is to be revived and enforced against
American fishermen. The plain motive of
this Is to coerce the United States into con-
ceding trade relations which, under the name
of reciprocity are hostile to many inter
ests of our people.
1t is always desirable to maintain the most
friendly relations with our neighbors, but
think 1t is the plain duty of our national
government to teach Canada that the spirit
of vindictiye aggression, which she Is show
ing towards our fishermen, cannot bring any
advantage to her. A simple and direct REM
edy would be to levy such increased duty on
the fish which Canada sends to the United
States as would stimulate our own fishermen,
and partially, If not wholly, exclude Cana
dian fishermen from the advantage of our
market. 1t would. think, be advantageous
to demonstrate to the Canadian government
that retaliation is very easS, and that, reluc-
tant as we should be to resort to it, we could
soon throw the loss incident to the existing
dispute wholly upon the fishermen Of the
Dominion.
1t may, upon investigation, seem expe-
dientsfor you to make proper representation
Which closely touches the interest of many
OF 0ttr citizens.
CONCLUSION
Gentlemen of the Senate and House, we
may congratulate ourselves that we assem-
BILE at time of general prosperity in the
| State. While our progress is not so rapid as
that Of some States more highly favored in
natural advantages, our growth Is steady and
substantial; One most gratifying feature in
our advance Is shown in the general partici-
| patton of the people In all that relates TO the
| growth of the State in wealth and comfort.
| We do not have one class in Maine
growing unfairly at the expense Of
Ofl Tw1a H.. Gaf. I'D
of protective tariff our manufactures
have largely expanded and every other indus
| try OF the State, except the one already re-
| ferred to, has grown with them. The fifty
| four sayings banks show that large surplus
IS in the hands of the mass Of the people.
| On the first day of November the aggregate
| deposits in those banks were in excess of
$3s,000,00o. The wide distribution of owner
| ship of this large sum of money Is shown by
the fact that the number Of depositors was
114,691, and of this number more than 90, 900
owned less than $500 each. The increase
of deposits in the past year was more than
$2,00O,0oO, and the increase Of depostors was
| 1928.
These figures tell their own story and
| speak more eloquently and more persuasiyely
than any argument for the present industrial
| system of the United States which gives
such large facilities for the honest working
man to secure an independence. The saw
ings banks have done faithful work for
the people of the State, and have encour-
aged spirit of thrift and economy among
all classes which cannot be too highly
praised. With the same general object in
view, another form Of combined effort is now
being made by the building associations of
the State, by which men Of very moderate
means are enabled to acquire comfortable
homes on easy terms and long time. If any
thing can be done by the legislative power to
| promote the object of these new associations,
am sure they will receive your most favor
| able consideration.
We are entrusted with the government of
a State whose affairs in the past have been
wisely and prudently administered. Cherish
ing spirit of devotion to public duty, and
invoking the blessing of God, without whose
| aid all human effort is vain, let us turn to
| the work that is set before us to do.
JOSEPH r. BoDwELL.
TIE CrArE